On Thursday, May 30, futures for cattle and pigs on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed mainly with a decline, and the growth of the corn market put pressure on livestock contracts.

“This was largely due to the growth of corn. Futures for feeder cattle showed the biggest losses, setting contract lows in all directions.

The most actively traded August contract fell 3.2 percent. The market was awaiting a weekly report on export sales by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, due out Friday, May 31.

Most traders expect Friday's report to show export sales of both products below an unexpectedly higher level last week. CME pig indices fell 1.525 cents in June to 83.675 cents a pound, while pigs actively traded in July rose 0.075 cents to 87.875 cents.

In June, livestock fell 2.275 cents to 110.075 cents per pound, while August, which was actively trading, fell 2.8 cents to 105.05 cents.

Cattle feed in August fell 4.5 cents to 138.225 cents per pound, and in September - 4.50 cents to 138.525 cents.